The 35th Annual Folk Festival
Another festival has come and gone, a fine time for all!
Here was the 2011 line-up:
Pura Fe'
The Steel Wheels
The Juggernaut Jug Band
Lac La Belle
Ruby John with Woodland Celtic
Conga Se Menne
Pura Fe'—Pura Fe', meaning "pure faith" in Spanish, has an interesting biography, to say the least. Born in New York City in 1959, of a Puerto Rican/Corsican/Spanish/Taino father and a Tuscarora mother, she is a teacher, actress and staunch activist for Indian causes, as well as a superb singer and instrumentalist. This "Renaissance woman" is the founding member of the internationally renowned native women's a capella trio, Ulali, and is recognized for creating a new genre, bringing native contemporary music to the forefront of the "mainstream" music industry. www.purafe.com
The Steel Wheels—2010 was a breakout year for The Steel Wheels with 5 nominations from the Independent Music Awards and numerous placements on “best of the year” lists. The four-piece band is based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where lead singer and primary songwriter Trent Wagler has been a scene staple for nearly a decade. Multi-instrumentalist Jay Lapp was touring with several successful Midwest bands when he and Wagler crossed paths in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and a musical partnership began. The two are joined by upright bassist Brian Dickel and fiddler Eric Brubaker to form The Steel Wheels. www.thesteelwheels.com
The Juggernaut Jug Band—This highly entertaining band hails from Louisville, Kentucky, traditional birthplace of the jug band sound. Each performance is a challenge to the audience to have as much fun as the band. Don't let their antics fool you though, their exuberant music is the result of skillfully conceived arrangements, unusual instrumentation, and unique vocal harmonies.
Band members are Roscoe Goose on jug, washboard, kazoo, flute, harmonica and trumpet; Skip Tracer on guitar, banjo and mandolin; Smiley Habanero on guitar; and Nick O'Time on bass.
www.juggernautjugband.com
Lac La Belle—Jennie Knaggs and Nick Schillace use old-time instrumentation and style with a modern sensibility. Jennie Knaggs moved to Detroit in 2004 and her singular talent has made her a fixture on the city's music scene. She is the 2000 Hollerin' Champion of Wise Co., Virginia and Letcher Co., Kentucky. Her snapping rhythm guitar, mandolin and accordion playing are all in fine display with Lac La Belle. Raised by folk and blues enthusiasts, Nick Schillace acquired early training at Augusta Heritage in Elkins, West Virginia. Schillace draws on this background as he sings and plays banjo, mandolin and resonator guitar. www.laclabellemusic.com
Ruby John with Woodland Celtic—Ruby is a real rising star in our region and we are proud to have her back at Spirit of the Woods. A fine fiddler and singer, she is joined by Bob Sadler on fiddle; Steve Stanton, guitar; Shelly Van Liere , flute; Bill Van Liere, mandolin; Sue Woods, piano; and Brendan Keenan on Bodhran. The band plays Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and Metis genres of Celtic music. Beautiful music by a stellar band. www.myspace.com/rubyijohn
Conga Se Menne—The Festival will end up as usual in a dance and this year the band will be playing Finnish reggae... Huh? What was that you said there? Well, here's what they say about themselves: One would not expect to find world class musicians in this small northern college town. Marquette, Michigan is not exactly Chicago, Nashville, nor even Memphis, but you couldn't tell by listening to Derrell Syria and the members of Conga Se Menne. While the lyrics are geared for fun, the quality of their sound is no laughing matter. Syria's original songs carry the flavor of Michigan's Upper Peninsula in lyrical silliness and the spirit of its hearty residence in musical excellence. The musical style of Conga Se Menne runs the gamut of Blues, Funk, Latin, Reggae, Rock, Caribbean beats and ethnic Finnish sounds. Island beat percussion blends smoothly with melliflous keyboards, sonorous horns and big shouldered guitar work–all mixing with an influence of traditional styles.
www.congasemenne.com
Spirit of the Woods Music Association
www.spiritofthewoods.org